Electrical switching means



Nov. 19, 1929. J. sAcHs ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS Filed July 29. 1922Patented Nov. 19, 1929 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH s'acrrs, or WEST HARTFORD,CONNECTICUT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS Application filed July 29, 1922.Serial No. 578,339.

This invention relates to switch blocks, especially those switch andcut-out blocks which are designed to be used in connection withelectrical meters and which are provided with means to facilitatetesting of the meters.

A switch mechanism of the type to which the invention is particularlyapplicable comprises a base block and one or more main switchespreferably of'the knife blade type and all on one face of the block.There is also provided a supplemental switch of similar or other typewhich is intended to be normally closed but which can be opened forspecial purposes, as for instance, the testing of a meter which may beconnected with the switch mechanism.

.One of the objects of the invention is to provide in a switch of thistype a switch blade operating means which is adapted and connected tomove the main switch blade or blades in either direction and which isada ted to ove the supplemental switch bla eonly int eclosing direction.This construction permits the main switch to be operated at will but itprevents the opening of the supplemental switch when the main switch 15closed, and, when the supplemental switch has been once opened, itensures its closing simultaneously with the closing of the main switch.

The invention is particularly serviceable when used in connection withthose switches which areenclosed in cabinets or casings that are sealedso that they cannot be opened except by an authorized person, forinstance by an inspector or meter tester. In accordance with theinvention, when such a cabinet or casing is provided, the parts are soarranged with relation thereto that the main operating means isaccessible from the outside of the casing and that the supplementalswitch is accessible to be moved in the opening direction only when thecasing is open. The invention however is not llmited to a switchenclosed in a casing for it is beneficial in any device where there is amain switch blade and an adjacent supplemental switch which is normallyclosed but which is capable of being opened for special purposes.

the walls 2 of a box in any suitable manner.

The said box is adapted to be opened, suitable means such as a pivotedcover 2 being provided for this purpose. The cover may be sealed inclosed position. On the base shown are two electrical paths eachcomprising terminal contacts 3 and 4 adapted for connection withconductor wires and an interposed screw plug fuse 5. While the terminals3 and 4 and the fuses 5 have been illustrated, it will be understoodthat these do i not necessarily constitute a part of the invention inits broader aspects. There are also one or more main electrical paths,and, as illustrated, there are two such paths each comprising terminalcontacts 6 and 7 adapted for connection with conductor wires, and aninterposed switch blade 8. The switch blades 8 are preferably pivotallymounted and preferably have their pivotal axes in alignment.

, For moving the main switch blades 8 there is provided a bladeoperating means which is preferably mounted independent-1y of any of theblades. When pivoted blades are used I prefer to make the operatingmeans in the formof a crank rod or bail 11 which is pivotally mountedcoaxially' with the pivots of the switch blades. When a casing isprovided the crank rod is ordinarily pivoted'in apertures in the walls 2of the casing and is extended at one side to provide" a handle 12- bywhich the rod 11 can beoperated fromplate 9 having a slot 10 thereinthrough which the cranked portion of the rod 11 extends. When the handleis turned one way the crank rod swings the switch blades open and whenthe handle is turned theother way the switch blades are closed.

In addition to the switches comprising the contacts 6 and 7 and theblades 8, there is also provided at least one supplemental switch whichis preferably but not necessarily similar in construction to theaforesaid switches and which as shown comprises terminal contacts 13 and14 and an interposed switch blade 15. When the main switch blades 8 arepivoted as preferred, the switch blade 15 preferably has its pivotalaxis in alignment with the axes of the blades 8 and it is adapted to beswung into and out of engagement with the contacts 13 and 14. WVhen theinvention is embodied in a threewire switch block as illustrated theswitch comprising'the contacts 13 and 14 and the blade 15 may form apart of the neutral electrical path across the block, but it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the use of thesupplemental switch as a part of the neutral connection. The blade 15 isintended to be normally closed but under some circumstances, as forinstance when the block is being used for meter testing purposes, it isnecessary to open it. For this purpose the blade is provided with aninsulating plate 16. This plate projects from the blade in such a mannerthat it may be used as a handle for opening the blade when desired, andit extends in such position that it is adapted to be engaged by theswitch operating crank rod 11 when the handle is turned for closing themain switch blades. It will be seen that the insulating plate 16constitutes a connection between the operating means andthe blade 15adapted for moving the said blade in the closing direction but incapableof moving it in the opening direction. With this construction thesupplemental or testing blade can never be left open with the mainswitch closed, for while the main switch may be opened and closedWithout opening the supplemental blade, the main switch cannot be closedwithout closing the supplemental blade, and the-supplemental or testingblade can never be opened without first opening the main switch. As aresult of this arrangement an inspector or tester cannot close the mainswitch and go away leaving the supplementalor testing blade open. a

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there is apeculiar and novel relationship between the several switch parts and theenclosing casing. As already stated the casing is adapted to be sealedso as to serve to prevent unauthorized access to any of the partscontained therein. At the same time, however, the handle 12 is locatedoutside of the casing so that the main switch or switches can beoperated at any time without breaking the seal and opening the casing.The supplemental switch, however, is doubly protected against beingunintentionally left open and against bein opened at all by unauthorizedpersons. y reason of the peculiar construction and relationship of theparts as already described the supplemental switch cannot be openedexcept when the main switches are opened, and it cannot be left openwhen the main switches are closed; and furthermore, by reason of theprotective casing the supplemental switch cannot be opened even when themain switches are open, except by breaking the seal and opening thecasing.

The invention claimed is 1. In a switch, the combination of a baseblock, a plurality of pairs of switch contacts on the block, a pluralityof switch blades mounted on the block for independent movement andadapted upon bein so moved to respectively connect and isconnect theswitch contacts of the several pairs, ablade operating means movablymounted independently of any of the switch blades, a connection betweenthe operatin means and one blade adapted for moving t e said blade ineither direction, and a connection between the operating means andanother blade adapted for moving the said blade in the closing directionand incapable of moving it in the opening direction.

2. In a switch, the combination of a base block, a plurality of pairs ofswitch contacts on the block, a plurality of switch blades independentlypivoted on the block for movement about aligned axes and adapted uponbeing so moved to respectively connect and disconnect the switchcontacts of the several pairs, a blade operating crank rod pivotallymounted independently of any of the switch blades for movement coaxiallytherewith, a connection between the crank rod and one blade adapted formoving the said blade in either direction, and a connection between thecrank rod and another blade adapted for moving the said blade in theclosing irection and incapable ofmoving it in the opening direction.

3. In a switch, the combination of a base block, a plurality of pairs ofswitch contacts on the block, a plurality of switch blades independentlypivoted on the block for movement about aligned axes and adapted uponbeing so moved to respectively connect and disconnect the switchcontacts of the several pairs, a movably mounted blade operating meanscooperating with all of the blades, and insulating members supplementalto the operating means and carried by the respective blades so as to beengageable by the o eratin means, the engagement of one mem er wit theoperating means being such as to cause the movement of the correspondingblade in both directions and the engagement of another member with theoperating means being such as to cause the movement of the correspondingblade in the closing direction .only.

4. In an enclosed switch mechanism, the combination of a casing having amovable cover, a block within the casing, a plurality of pairs of switchcontacts on the block, a plurality of movable switch bladesindependently mounted on the block and adapted upon being moved torespectively connect and disconnect the switch contacts of the severalpairs, means connected with one switch blade for manually moving thesaid blade-in either direction, the said means being inaccessible fromthe exterior of the casing when the easing cover is in closed position,and means-operable from the exterior of the casing for moving anotherblade in either direction and for moving the first said blade to itsclosed position and holding it in' such position whenever the secondsaid blade is moved to or held in its closed position, the last saidmeans being free from any connective relation with the first said bladetending to move it in the opening direction.

5. In an enclosed switch mechanism, the combination of a casing, ablockiwithin the casing, a pluralityiof pairs of switch contacts on theblock, a plurality of switch blades -;independently pivoted on the blockfor movement about aligned axes and adapted upon being so moved torespectively connect and disconnect the switch contacts of the severalpairs, a blade operating crank arm pivotally mounted coaxially with theswitch blades in the walls of the casing at opposite sides of the blockand operable from the ex terior of the casing, a connection between thecrank arm and one blade adapted for mov-,

ing the said blade in either direction, and a connection between thecrank arm and another blade adapted for moving the said blade in theclosing direction and incapable of moving it in the opening direction.

6. An electrical service appliance comprising a casing, an insulatingbase mounted within the casing, wire attaching terminals connected byfusing means and wire attaching terminals connected by switching meansmounted on the base and providin main current paths across the face ofthe ase, a bail supported by the casin and connected with said switchinmeans or opening and closing them, sai bail being actuated from theexterior of the casing, and wire attaching terminals mounted on the baseand connected by a supplemental switch blade, the said supdisconnected eclosing path of said ball whereby the openin movement of the bail opensthe main switfiiing' means plemental switch bladeabein from but 1 ingbelow and in th JOSEPH SACHS.

